Wiscasset Speedway

Sun, 05/01/2016 - 12:30pm

Lisa and Rich Maguire

Zach Audet of Skowhegan, winner of the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini’s race April 30. Courtesy of Mary Taylor/petespicks.smugmug.com

It was a beautiful spring day Saturday, April 30 and fans flocked to Wiscasset Speedway for Group two opening day. On the schedule were the Strictly Streets, Late Model Sportsman, Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini’s, Amsoil Nelcar Legends, and the Spotlighted race of the week, Napa Modifieds.

A 40-lap Napa Modified feature race started off the action. Starting at the pole was 2015 Modified champion, Mark Lucas. Lucas set a grueling pace for the pack, running speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour. The #1 of Adam Chadbourne dogged Lucas’s heels throughout the beginning of the race, presenting a constant challenge for Lucas. Nick Reno of the #7 ran a close third, looking for his opportunity to pass. Reno’s chance came in lap fifteen. A race caution resulted in a restart. Reno started on the inside, and sped under Chadbourne, taking second. There was another caution during lap twenty-three. Reno tried to get a jump on Lucas at the start, but Lucas was able to power ahead and put a five car length lead between them within five laps. Lucas took the win. Reno placed second. Chadbourne finished in third.

“It’s not really a win that counts when you start on the pole,” said Lucas. “There were at least four cars around me that could have been the winner just as easily had I started behind them; but I’ll take a win any time I can. We were just happy to come home with no damage and happy to see that most of the cars came back the same way. Not much fun to start opening day with wrecked cars. I’d like to thank Richard and Vanessa Jordan for all the work that they put into the track. The tremendous effort is paying off. I want to thank my crew for all of their hard work. It was a last minute effort to even be at the race track. I want to thank my sponsors: Lucas Auto Repair, and Fishing Vessel Mamiluem. I also want to thank my mom and dad, my wife and daughters, and my sister for always being there.”

The Amsoil Nelcar Legends made their second appearance of nine at Wiscasset Speedway. The Nelcar Legends competed in a 25-lap race that was exciting from the start. The #10 of Ed Getty was pole winner. Getty led the group for the first twelve laps. Austin Teras of the #29 and Matt Grant of the #84 battled for second. By lap twelve, 2015 Legends champion Kevin Girard Jr. had worked his way from tenth into the top five. While Getty, Teras, and Grant all fought for the lead, Girard found an inside line and passed them all, shooting to first. Girard’s car liked the fresh air, and he rapidly put distance between him and his closest competitors. Girard took the win. Grant placed second. Rounding out the top three was Teras.

It looks like another year of fierce competition in the Strictly Street division. Seventeen cars sped onto the track, and no one was there to lose. It was a 25-lap race, and the #84 of Skip Trip started at the pole. When the green flew over the track, Mac Hannon of the #40 shot to the lead. The #55H of Kurt Hewins moved quickly from forth to second. Trip fell to third.

The trio put on a show. Hewins quickly moved to the outside of Hannon and tried for ten laps to make a pass. By lap eleven, Hewins was trying to bump Hannon out of the way from behind, but a race caution put an end to that tactic. On the ensuing restart, Hewins once again moved to the outside and raced head to head with Hannon. As the pair fought for the lead, Hannon got loose. Hewins used this to his advantage and was eventually able to make a pass for the lead during lap nineteen.

A race caution changed everything. On the restart Hannon was once again able to rocket to the forefront. The #56 of Dan Somes advanced to third. However, Somes couldn’t stay low on the track, and went high on turn four during lap twenty-one. Ethan Dinsmore of the #8X passed Somes easily on the inside and took third. Hannon and Hewins raced neck and neck for the remainder of the race, but Hannon was able to hold him off and take the win. Hewins placed second. Dinsmore took third.

Keeping fans on the edge of their seats was a 35-lap Late Model Sportsman feature race. Twenty-two cars roared off the start, with the #14 of Dave St. Clair leading the pack. To his right was the #25 of Will Collins. Behind was the #38 of Dan Trask. Starting in fifth was the #26 of Andrew McLaughlin. McLaughlin quickly advanced up the track, passing both Trask and Collins for second. McLaughlin pulled to the outside of Dave St. Clair and the duo fought for the lead. During lap thirteen, McLaughlin was able to complete a pass, and Dave St. Clair fell to second. Moving up from seventh place was Nick Hinkley of the #15. Hinkley passed Collins during lap thirteen to take third.

There was a caution during lap seventeen, and on the restart, Dave St. Clair once again took the lead. McLaughlin methodically worked his way back up to Dave St. Clair and passed during lap twenty to reclaim first. Dave St. Clair and Hinkley made contact on turn two during lap twenty-three and slid up the track. A caution was called and the pair was sent to the back. Trask advanced to second and Chris Thorne of the #17 moved to third. Thorne advanced on the restart and passed Trask for second. Trask continued to slide back and surrendered his third place spot to the #30 of Ryan St. Clair during lap twenty-five.

There was another caution during lap twenty-seven. On the restart McLaughlin effortlessly pulled ahead. Ryan St. Clair had the inside advantage and passed Thorne for second. Thorne attempted to complete a pass during the final laps, but Ryan St. Clair was able to hold onto second place. McLaughlin took the win. Thorne placed third.

The Outlaw Mini’s picked up a division sponsor this year, Kennebec Equipment Rental. The Outlaws provided a show for the fans, with pole winner Zachary Audet of the #19 speeding quickly to the lead. Audet spent the entire race looking out of his rear view window looking at the rest of the pack trying to catch up. The #20 of Shawn Kimball ran the first seven laps in second place, and it looked like he was going to give Audet a challenge for the win. However, Kimball’s car had mechanical issues and he headed to the pit, and did not return. Rob Greenleaf of the #2 advanced to second and Cody Tribbett of the #13 moved to third. Race leaders remained constant to the finish. Audet cruised to the win. Greenleaf placed second. Tribbet took third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, Saturday, May 7 with its group one lineup of divisions: ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostock, Super Street, Thunder 4’s, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock. Next Saturday’s flex race are the Wicked Good Vintage Racers.

Pit gates open at 2 p.m., grandstand gates open at 4, and racing begins at 6. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children ages 7 and older. Kids 6 and under are free. Pit admission is $20. Race fans and drivers can purchase their favorite pictures from not only this season, but from season’s past, at Peter Taylor’s (the track photographer) website: www.petespicks.smugmug.com. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com. The Wiscasset Speedway website is packed with information, including schedule of events, division rosters and rules, race results, and driver profiles. Head on over to take a look.